George Pastell
Cypriot actor (1923–1976)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
George Pastell (born Georgiou Pastellides;[3] 13 March 1923[1] – 4 April 1976) was a Cypriot actor, known for playing various character roles in British films and television during the 1950s and 1960s.
13 March 1923
George Pastell | |
|---|---|
 Pastel as Mehemet Bey in The Mummy (1959) | |
| Born | Georgiou Pastellides 13 March 1923 Nicosia, Cyprus |
| Died | 4 April 1976 (aged 53) Dade County, Florida, U.S. |
| Other names | |
| Alma mater | Royal Academy of Dramatic Art National Theatre of Greece |
| Occupation |
|
| Years active | 1949–1976 |
| Known for | |
| Spouse | Gloria George (m. 1958) |
Early life and education
Born to a French mother of Indian origin and a Greek father, Pastell began his career spending two years in banking.[4] Aged 21, he joined the Greek National Theatre. Leaving Cyprus a few years later with only £50 in his pocket, Pastell came to England, scarcely able to speak much English. However, he studied the language by taking evening classes at the Pitman School and soon graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.[5]
Acting career
He made his film debut in Give Us This Day (1949), credited as Nino Pastellides, and played villains in film and television. He was often cast by Hammer Film Productions as Eastern characters such as Mehemet Bey in The Mummy (1959), the High Priest of Kali in The Stranglers of Bombay (1960), Inspector Etienne in Maniac (1963), and Hashmi Bey in The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb (1964).[6][7]
His exotic looks often saw him cast in spy films of the '60s such as From Russia with Love (1963); Licensed to Kill (1965); A Man Could Get Killed (1966); That Riviera Touch (1966); and Deadlier Than the Male (1967). He also appeared in the films Tiger Bay, The Angry Hills (1959), The Siege of Sidney Street (1960), Konga, The Frightened City (1961), On the Beat (1962), The Moon-Spinners (1964), The Long Duel (1967) and The Magus (1968).[1]
He also appeared as the villain in the '60s television series Danger Man; The Avengers (1966 episode "Honey For the Prince"); Doctor Who; The Champions; The Saint; and Department S.
Pastell's stage acting credits included the King of Siam in the musical The King and I, first as a replacement on the original West End production,[8] and then in the UK national tour (1956-57).[9] He starred as Wang Chi Yang in the 1960-62 West End run of Flower Drum Song.[10]
Other work
At the suggestion of his wife, backing singer Gloria George (of The Ladybirds), Pastell went into the recording business.[11] In 1968 with his partner Alexander Dembeniotis and help from a couple of bankers, the Duboff Brothers, he took over Recorded Sound Studio to make it a more commercially viable studio.[12] The place would go on to house consoles and equipment created by electronics engineer Rupert Neve. Pastell acted as studio manager and by 1971, the studio was renamed Nova Sound after being acquired by a group named Scotia Investments.[13][14]
Personal life
Selected filmography
- Adam and Evelyne (1949) - Headwaiter at Restaurant (uncredited)
- Madness of the Heart (1949) - Waiter
- Give Us This Day (1949) - The Lucy
- Moulin Rouge (1952) - Man at First Bar (uncredited)
- The Gambler and the Lady (1952) - Jacko Spina
- Deadly Nightshade (1953) - Ferrari (uncredited)
- South of Algiers (1953) - Hassan
- Blind Spot (1958) - Schrieder
- Battle of the V-1 (1958) - Eryk
- Tiger Bay (1959) - 'POLOMA' Captain
- Deadly Record (1959) - Angelo
- The Angry Hills (1959) - Papa Panos
- The Mummy (1959) - Mehemet Bey
- The Stranglers of Bombay (1959) - High Priest of Kali
- Bottoms Up (1960) - Swarthy Man
- The Siege of Sidney Street (1960) - Brodsky
- Konga (1961) - Prof. Tagore
- The Frightened City (1961) - Sanchetti
- Village of Daughters (1962) - 2nd Pickpocket
- Masters of Venus (1962) - Kallas
- On the Beat (1962) - Manzini
- Tarzan's Three Challenges (1963) - Khan (voice, uncredited)
- Impact (1963) - Sebastian 'The Duke' Dukelow
- Maniac (1963) - Inspector Etienne
- From Russia with Love (1963) - Train Conductor
- The Secret Door (1964) - Antonio
- The Moon-Spinners (1964) - Police lieutenant
- The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb (1964) - Hashmmi Bey
- Danger Man (television series; 'The Colonel's Daughter') (1964) - Petel
- The High Bright Sun (1965) - Prinos
- The Intelligence Men (1965) - Assassin (uncredited)
- She (1965) - Haumeid (voice, uncredited)
- Licensed to Kill (1965) - Second Russian Commisar
- Out of the Unknown ('No Place Like Earth', episode) (1965) - Major Kahn
- A Man Could Get Killed (1966) - Lazlo
- That Riviera Touch (1966) - Ali
- Khartoum (1966) - Giriagis Bey (uncredited)
- Run with the Wind (1966) - Lennie
- Deadlier Than the Male (1967) - Carloggio
- The Long Duel (1967) - Ram Chand
- Doctor Who - The Tomb of the Cybermen, (1967) - Eric Klieg
- The Magus (1968) - Andreas-Priest
- Vendetta for the Saint (1969) - Marco Ponti
Stage credits
- The Shoemaker’s Wife (1952; Torch Theatre, London) - Don Mirlo[16]
- The Shrike (1953, UK tour) - John Ankoritis[17]
- The King and I (1953-56, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London) - King of Siam (replacement)[8]
- The King and I (1956-57, UK tour) - King of Siam[9]
- Flower Drum Song (1961, Palace Theatre, London) - Wang Chi Yang[10]